306 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Color brilliant; the back and upper part of sides bluish or olive-green; this color changing to 
yellow or rose on lower part of sides; belly rosy with a median white line; head tinged with red 
on sides, white underneath; back and sides, above the level of pectorals, thickly dotted with small, 
irregular, yellowish spots, these spots most conspicuous at the nape; dorsal dusky, with yellow 
spots, the soft part with a pale margin; anal pale pinkish, clouded with purple and bluish iridescence; 
pectorals pale sooty brown, with purplish near bases; fleshy flap at nape greenish yellow. 
This fish does not occur in the Chesapeake collection. The foregoing description is compiled 
from published accounts of the species. The brilliant colors and the fleshy flap at nape readily 
identify this fish. 
The food (Bigelow and Welsh, 1925, p. 356) consists mainly of bottom-dwelling invertebrates 
including crabs, squid, shrimp, shelled mollusks, annelids, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and anem- 
ones. Occasionally fish are included in the diet. The tilefish evidently is distinctly a ground 
fish, seldom, if ever, rising to the surface. 
Spawning of the tilefish takes place in July. The eggs are reported to be buoyant and about 
1.35 millimeters in diameter. Nothing is known about the larval stages nor the rate of growth. 
The tilefish is reported to reach a weight of 50 pounds, but the usual size probably does not 
exceed 35 pounds. This fish is of no commercial importance as far south as off the mouth of 
Chesapeake Bay. Off New York and the southern New England coast it is of considerable 
importance. 
Habitat . — Along the outer edge of the continental shelf, off the coast of New England, to oppo- 
site the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, usually in water varying from 50 to 200 fathoms in depth. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: None. ( b ) Specimens in collection: None. 
The species is included because a specimen was observed in the market in Cape Charles city, Va., 
by Dr. Paul Bartsch, curator, division of mollusks, United States National Museum, in July, 1913. 
The exact locality where this fish was taken is not known to the writers. It is probable, however, 
that the fish was taken off the mouth of the bay and that the species does not properly belong to 
the fauna of the Chesapeake. Doctor Bartsch reports that the fish was the attraction of the entire 
fishing community. 
Family LXXII. — EPHIPPID^E. The spadefishes 
Body much compressed, very deep; back high, strongly arched; ventral outline less so; mouth 
small, terminal; jaws with bands of slender, sharp, movable teeth; premaxillary slightly protrac- 
tile; nostrils double; gill rakers short; gill membranes broadly united to the isthmus; scales ctenoid, 
of small or moderate size; lateral line strongly arched; dorsal fins 2, the first with 8 to 11 spines, 
the second longer, with anterior rays produced; caudal fin broad, either square or concave; anal 
with 3 or 4 spines, the soft rays similar to those of dorsal; ventrals thoracic; pectoral fins short. 
A single genus and species of this family is found on the Atlantic coast of the Americas. 
130. Genus CH.5JTODXPTERUS Lacepede. The spadefishes 
Body much compressed, nearly as deep as long; the back greatly elevated; snout short and blunt; 
vomer and palatines toothless; preopercle finely serrate; branchiostegals 6; lateral line concurrent 
with the back; scales small, about 60 to 70 in a lateral series; dorsal fins slightly disconnected, the 
first consisting of about eight spines, the third spine longest; anal fin with three spines, the second 
longest. A single species of this genus occurs on the Atlantic coast of the Americas. 
167. Chsetodipterus faber (Broussonet) . Porgy; Spadefish; Moonfish; Angelfish. 
Chsetoion faber Broussonet, Ichth. Sistens, Pise., 1782, p. 17, PI. VI; Jamaica. 
Parephippus faber Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 107; ed. II, p. 89. 
Chsetodipterus faber Bean, 1891, p. 86; Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 3668, pi. CCXLVII, fig. 619; Smith and Bean, 1899, 
p. 187; Evermann and Hildebrand, 1910, p. 162. 
Head 2.9 to 3.2; depth 1.15 to 1.2; D. VIII-I, 23; A. Ill, 18 to 20; scales about 65 to 75. Body 
very deep, strongly compressed; the back greatly elevated; head short; snout very blunt, 2.3 to 2.58 
in head; eye 2.7 to 3.25; interorbital 2.65 to 3; mouth small, nearly terminal; maxillary reaching 
eye in young, not as far back in adult, 3 to 3.35 in head; teeth in brushlike bands in each jaw, the 
outer series somewhat enlarged; gill rakers very short, 10 to 13 on lower limb of first arch; lateral 
